Metal window and weather strip construction



H. J. BIANCO METAL WINDOW AND WEATHER STRIP CONSTRUCTION Feb. 26, 1957 Filed June 30,. 1953 illlnlli nnnllllnlir II! n n.; e{l llll (lllllll lffim INVENTOR.

J BIANCO ATTORN EYS HENRY United States atent METAL WINDOW AND WEATHER STRIP CONSTRUCTION Henry J. Bianca, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Burch Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application June 30, 1953, Serial No. 365,055

10 Claims. (Cl. 189-52) The present invention relates to a metal window and weather strip construction and, more particularly, to such a construction for a metal window adapted to slide vertically in a channelled guide track.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a common means for joining the individual frame elements of a metal window sash and for securing a weather strip to the side elements which slide in guide tracks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal window incorporating such a means which may be readily assembled without complicated and expensive apparatus, only the simplest tools being required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal window and weather strip assembly in which the weatherstripping will effect a tight seal between the window and the track in which it is guided, and yet will not materially retard the sliding action of the sash.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a metal window and weather strip assembly of very light and yet durable construction.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a window and weather strip construction in which all fastenings are concealed from external view, thus giving the Window a pleasing and ornamental appearance.

A more specific object of the invention is to utilize corner blocks, which secure the side, top and bottom elements of a sash frame together, as a mounting means for weather strips which embrace the outer edges of the side elements.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the upper sash of a window in which the present invention may be incorporated, the window being viewed from the exterior;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing in detail the corner constructions of the window of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lower corner shown in Fig. 2 as viewed on the line 33 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the weather strip removed; and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view partly in elevation and partly in section, looking in a direction opposed to that of Figs. 3 and 5, showing the manner in which the bottom and side rails of the present window are interfitted, but with latch bolt shown in Figs. 3 and 5 removed.

In the drawings only the details of the upper sash of the window have been shown for illustrative purposes, but it is to be understood that the present invention will be incorporated in the lower sash as well. Also it will be noted that only the right hand side of the sash has been shown in detail and again it should be understood that the left hand side of the sash will be constructed in a similar manner.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a window frame generally designated by the numeral 1, and since this frame constitutes no part of the present invention it will not be described in detail. For a complete description of the window frame reference may be had to my copending application Serial No. 365,053, filed June 30, 1953.

Secured to the side members of window frame 1 are a pair of guide tracks 2, which, as shown in Fig. 4, includes a U-shaped channel portion 3, having side walls 4, and a base portion 6. The base portion 6 is provided with a series of spaced apertures 7 for a reason which will be brought out hereinafter.

A window sash generally designated by the numeral 8 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in the channel portion 3 of the guide tracks 2. The sash 8 comprises a top rail 9, a bottom rail 11, and side rails 12, all of which are preferably formed of extruded aluminum, or aluminum alloy shapes.

Side rails F2 are of identical construction, and, as best shown in Fig. 4, are H-shaped in configuration, including spaced side walls 13 joined by a continuously extending web 1 This construction provides a glazing groove 16, to receive putty or similar plastic material for holding the window pane 17 in position, and an outwardly opening groove 18. The walls of giazing groove 16 terminate in a pair of inturned fianges'iti to aid in retaining the putty in position.

The bottom rail 1i, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, comprises spaced side walls 21 joined by horizontally extending web mem ers 22 and 23. The lower web member 22 lies in a plane contiguous with the lower edges of the side walls 21 but the upper web member 23 joins the side walls intermediate their upper and lower edges thus forming a hollow portion 24 and a glazing groove 26. 7

As was the case with glazing groove 16 of side rails 12, the edges of glazing groove 26 are provided with in turned flanges 27 for retaining putty or the like.

The inner of the side walls 21 of bottom rail 11 is provided at its lower edge with an L-shaped meeting rail 28 which cooperates with a corresponding inverted meeting rail (not shown) on the lower sash to provide an effective seal when the window is closed.

Adjacent the lower end of outwardly facing groove 18 of each side rail 12 is positioned a metal bloc! 29, which may also preferably be formed of aluminum. Metal block 29 substantially fills the groove 18, but terminates short of theouter edges of side walls 13 to form a slight depression 31 for a reason which will be brought out hereinafter. The block 29 is secured to web portion 14 of side rail 12 by means of rivets 32, or other suitable means, and the block 29 may be relieved as at 33 for convenience in this regard.

Block 29 is provided with a threaded aperture 34, extending longitudinally inwardly from the outer ends thereof and a threaded aperture 36 extending inwardly from the outer raised surface of the blocks at right angles to the threaded aperture 34.

To join side rails 12 and bottom rail 11, the lower ends of the side rails are inserted into the glazing groove 26 adjacent each end of the bottom rail until the lower end of block 29 abuts the upper web member 23. To accomplish this, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lower ends of side walls 13 of side rails 12 must be removed to a height corresponding to the height of the respec= tive walls of glazing grooves 26. Also the surfaces form-' ing the side of block 29 and portions of web ldmust be relieved as shown at 37 to permit the block and web to pass between the confronting edges of inturned flanges 27. By this arrangement glazing grooves 16 and 26 are r interconnected to form one continuous groove.

To maintain the bottom rail 11 in place, a screw 38 is passed through an aperture 39 in the upper web 23 of the bottom rail and threaded into threaded aperture 34 in block 29. An aperture 41 is formed in lower web 22 of bottom rail 11 to permit entry of a screw driver for this purpose.

The general construction of top rail 9 and the manner of joining it to side rails 12 is the same as is the case with bottom rail 11 and need not be described in detail, corresponding parts having been given similar numbers in the drawings.

A weather strip of thin, flexible metal such as zinc alloy, bronze, stainless steel, etc., and generally designated by the numeral 42 is used to form a seal at b oth sidesbetween the'window and the side walls of channel portion 3 of. guide tracks 2. Weather strip 42 is of U-shaped construction, including leg portions 43 and a base portion44 and extends continuously along each side rail 12, the side rail being received within the leg portions of weather strip 42, which opens in a direction opposite to the groove 18.

The'weather strips 42 are secured to side rails 12, to slide therewith, by means of screws 46 passed through apertures 47 in base portion 44 adjacent each end of the weather strip and threaded into apertures 36 in the same blocks 29, which secure the top and bottom rails to the side rails. Whenscrews 46 are threaded home, they draw a medi'alzone of base portion 44 down into depressions 31, which causes the leg portions 43 to flare outwardly and forcefully contact the side walls 4 of channel-shaped portion 3 of guide track 2. To insure smooth sliding contact the edges of the weather strip are rounded as at 48.

In order to positively maintain the window at a desired adjusted position, a latch bolt 49 is mounted for sliding longitudinal movement in the hollow interior portion.24 of bottom rail 11 and may be guided in this movement by a pair of guide ribs 51. Latch bolt 49 is constantly urged to extended position by a coil spring 52 located in hollow portion 24 and compressed between the inner end of the latch bolt and a tab 53 struckdownwardly from the upper web 23 into the hollow portion 24. In the extended position, the bevelled outer end of latch bolt 49 will enter a selected one of the apertures 7 of the base portion 6 of channel-shaped portion'3 of guide track 2.

To retract latch bolt 49 against the force of coil spring 52, a knob 54 is passed through a slot 56 in the lower web 22 of bottom rail 11 and threaded into an aperture 57 in the latch bolt 49.

Thus, I have devised a metal window of light and durable construction, which may be easily reciprocated in its'guide tracks to a selected position. This window may be readily assembled with the simplest tools so as to include tightlysealing Weatherstripping, with the same element employed to interconnect the various members of the window sash as well as to mount the weather strips.

It will. be understood that various changes may be made in the specific details of the structure described, without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1; A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; a pair of vertical side rails positioned in between said top and bottom rails;'weather strips for sealing the spaces between said window sash and said guide tracks; and common means carriedby said-side railsfor securing said top rail, said bottomrail and said weather strips to said side rails.

2. A-metal window sashadapted toslide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: atop -rail;.a bottom rail; a pair of vertical side rails. positioned in between said-top; and bottom .rails; weather stripsextending continuously along the length of each of said side rails for sealing the spaces between said window sash and said guide tracks; means carried by the upper end of each of said side rails for securing said top rail and one end of said weather strips to said side rails; and means secured to the lower end of each of said side rails for securing said bottom rail and the other end of said weather strips to said side rails.

3. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; a pair of vertical side rails positioned in between said top and bottom rails; a weather strip extending-continuously along the length of each of said side rails for sealing the spaces between said window sash and said guidetracks; an upper block secured to each of said side rails at the upper end thereof; a lower block secured to each of said side rails at the lower end thereof; fastening means securing an. end of said top rail to each of said upper blocks; fastening meanssecuring the upper end of said weather strips to said upper blocks; fastening means securing opposite ends of said bottom rail to said lower blocks; and fastening means securing the other end of said weather strips to said lower blocks.

4. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; a pair of vertical side rails positioned in between said top, and bottom rails; weather strips extending continuously along the outside of each of said side rails for sealing the spaces between said window sashv and said guide tracks; an upper block adjacent said top rail and secured to each of said side rails at the upper ends thereof, each of said upper blocks having a vertically and a horizontally extending threaded aperture therein; screws extending through at least a portion of said top rail and threaded into said vertically extending apertures securing said top rail to said side rails; screws threaded into said horizontally extending, threaded apertures securing the upper end of said weather strips to said side rails; a lower block adjacent said bottom rail and secured to each of said side rails at the lower ends thereof, each of said lower blocks having a vertically and a horizontally extending threaded aperture therein; screws extending through at least a portion of said bottom rail and threaded into said vertically extending apertures of said lower blocks securing said bottom rail to said side rail; and screws threaded into said horizontally extending threaded apertures of said lower blocks securing the lower end of said weather strips to said side rails.

5. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail, including spaced vertical side walls joined by a horizontal web member; a bottom rail including spaced vertical side walls joined by a horizontal web member; side rails each including. a U-shaped portion opening in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent U-shaped guide track when said side rails are received in said guide tracks; a weather strip extending continuously along the outside of each of said side rails for sealing the spaces betweensaid window sash and said guide tracks; a first pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the upper ends thereof; a second pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the lower ends thereof; fastening means securing, said horizontal web member of said top rail and one end of one of said weather strips to said first pair. of blocks; and fastening means securing said horizontal member of said bottom rail and the other ends of said weather strips to said second pair of blocks.

6. A metal Window sash adapted to slide vertically in spacedU-shaped guide tracks, comprising: atop railincluding spaced vertical side walls joined'by'a horizontal webmember; a bottom-rail including spaced vertical side walls joined by a horizontal web member; side rails each including a U-shaped portion opening in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent U-shaped guide track when said side rails are received in said guide tracks; weather strips extending continuously along the outside of said side rails for sealing the spaces between said window sash and said guide tracks; a first pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the upper ends thereof; screws passing through said web portion of said top rail and threaded into said first pair of blocks securing said top rail to the upper ends of said side rails; screws threaded into said first pair of blocks securing one end of each of said weather strips to the upper end of said side rails; a second pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the lower end thereof; screws passing through said web portion of said bottom rail and threaded into said second pair of blocks securing said bottom rail to the lower ends of said side rails; and screws threaded into said second pair of blocks securing the other ends of said weather strips to the lower ends of said side rails.

7. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail including spaced vertical side walls joined by a horizontal web member; a bottom rail including spaced vertical side walls joined by a horizontal web member; each of said side rails including a U-shaped portion opening in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent U-shaped guide track when said side rails are received in said guide tracks; U-shaped weather strips of thin flexible metal having a base portion and leg portions and extending continuously along the outside of each of said side rails with said base portions overlying the open sides of said U-shaped portions of said side rails and with said leg portions flaring outwardly to seal the spaces between said window sash and the sides of said guide tracks; a first pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the upper ends thereof; screws passing through said web portion of said top rail and threaded into said first pair of blocks securing said top rail to the ends of said side rails; screws passing through the base portions of said weather strips and threaded into said first pair of blocks securing one end of said weather strips to said side rails; a second pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portion of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the lower ends thereof; screws passing through said web portion of said bottom rail and threaded into said second pair of blocks securing said bottom rail to the lower ends of said side rails; and screws passing through the base portions of said weather strips and threaded into said second pair of blocks securing the other ends of said weather strips to said side rails.

8. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; side rails each including a U-shaped portion opening in a direction opposite to that of the adjacent U-shaped guide track when said side rails are received in said guide tracks; U-shaped weather strips of thin,

v flexible metal having a base portion and leg portions and extending continuously along the outside of said side rails with said base portions overlying the open sides of said U-shaped portions of said side rails and with said leg portions flaring outwardly to seal the spaces between said window sash and each side of said guide tracks; a first pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the upper ends thereof, the outer surfaces of said blocks lying in planes spaced slightly inwardly of the open mouths of said U-shaped portions of said side rails; fastening means securing said top rail to said first pair of blocks; fastening means securing the base portion of said U- shaped weather strips to said outer surfaces of said first pair of blocks; a second pair of blocks received within said U-shaped portions of said side rails and secured to said side rails adjacent the lower ends thereof; the outer surfaces of said second pair of blocks also lying in planes spaced slightly inwardly of the open mouths of said U- shaped portions of said side rails; fastening means securing said bottom rail to said second pair of blocks; and fastening means securing the base portion of said weather strips to said outer surface of said second pair of blocks, the manner of securing said weather strips to said blocks causing the edges of said weather strips to be urged forcefully against the side walls of said guide track.

9. The window sash construction of claim 8 wherein the edges of the weather strips are rounded to insure smooth sliding contact with the walls of the U-shaped guide tracks when the window is moved vertically.

10. A metal window sash adapted to slide vertically in spaced U-shaped guide tracks, comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; a pair of vertical side rails positioned in between said top and bottom rails, each of said rails having a glazing groove of similar dimensions and said side rails having side wall portions relieved at both ends of said side rails for insertion in said glazing grooves of said top and bottom rails, each of said side rails having another groove opening oppositely to said glazing groove; blocks positioned in said other grooves of said side rails at opposite ends thereof; fastening means securing the ends of said top rail and said bottom rail to the adjacent ones of said blocks; weather strips extending continuously along said side rails to seal the spaces between said window and said guide tracks; and fastening means securing said weather strips at each end thereof to the adjacent one of said blocks, the arrangement being such that when said top, bottom and side rails are assembled, a single continuous glazing groove is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,256,046 Schroyer Feb. 12, 1918 1,595,999 Coupland Aug. 17, 1926 2,114,617 Verhagen Apr. 19, 1938 2,126,231 Verhagen Aug. 9, 1938 2,636,580 Bianco Apr. 28, 1953 

